WORKAROUND | Echo 13/15/17 & Alienware Graphics Amplifier nVIDIA Driver Installation

Solution:

If you have an Echo 13 first you must run CPU-Z to find out if the processor is a Haswell or a Broadwell

Echo 13 with Haswell

1. Unplug the Alienware Graphics Amplifier (AGA) and leave the notebook alone
2. Uninstall the nVIDIA driver
3. Go to C: and delete any nVIDIA folder
4. Go to Program Files and Program Files (x86) and delete any nVIDIA folders
5. Go to Run then type: %AppData% and delete any nVIDIA Folder
6. Go to Run then type: %ProgramData% and delete any nVIDIA folders
7. Download the 347.25 notebook driver from nVIDIA and install it without AGA attached to the system NVIDIA DRIVERS GeForce Game Ready Driver WHQL
8. Shut down the system
9. Connect AGA to the system
10. Connect the external display to AGA (It is critical that this is done)
11. Start up the system
12. Install the 347.25 driver again NVIDIA DRIVERS GeForce Game Ready Driver WHQL (Perform an express installation not the clean installation!!)


Echo 15/17 Haswell | Echo 13 Broadwell

1. Unplug AGA and leave the notebook alone
2. Uninstall the nVIDIA driver
3. Go to C: and delete any nVIDIA folder
4. Go to Program Files and Program Files (x86) and delete any nVIDIA folders
5. Go to Run then type: %AppData% and delete any nVIDIA Folder
6. Go to Run then type: %ProgramData% and delete any nVIDIA folders
7. Download & Install the 344.88 driver from: http://goo.gl/ZPQkkJ
8. Shut down the system
9. Connect Connect AGA to the system
10. Connect the external display to AGA (It is critical that this is done)
11. Start up the system
12. Download and install 347.25 notebook driver from nVIDIA NVIDIA DRIVERS GeForce Game Ready Driver WHQL (Perform an express installation not the clean installation!!)

IMPORTANT

1. Please be aware that after installing the driver with the Alienware Graphics Amplifier plugged in, the screen will flicker a few times, you must give this a minute or two.

2. Once done, you must enable the screen connected to the Alienware Graphics Amplifier, just like you would do with any other external screen.

3. This is a workaround and we are actively working to have a unified driver that avoids all of these issues.

 

Man...3 days after I returned my AW 13 and GA.

Any way you can help me purchase an AW 15 now?

 

It would be interesting if DDU ( Wagnard Tools) is used to strip out those folders? Much easier for the novice and you can jump to step 7?

 

hi, you did some testing with GA, the resultador were good?

 

You might as well try that. I know a couple at AWA who can't get past those steps.

 

DDU is a great tool... very effective. But, not being able to follow those steps is kind of scary for someone that spent a fair chunk of change on a gaming laptop. BGA or not, these are not noob machines. You need to have some sort of technical aptitude to avoid getting frustrated, since the need to tweak just goes with the territory. I guess console jockeys have to start somewhere. That's kind of like the joke about dogs chasing cars... not knowing what to do with it once he catches it, LOL.

 

AWA has new steps if the above didn't work.

Someone tell me why there is new, but it looks like outdated, driver being used here? The 344.88 one is fine.

 

Sometimes outdated drivers are the only ones that are any good. This is not really all that unusual for AMD or NVIDIA... the latest ain't always the greatest. The newest drivers from NVIDIA are nothing short of trash.

 

Well the 344.73 forceware drivers are drivers the came with the laptops (I just realized this, but I may be wrong). The 344.88 ones are the updated forceware.
Not sure why we're going backwards since the new ones seem to function like the old ones.

 

Might have something to do with playing nice with the eGPU. Something small and obscure in the driver differences could have an effect on behavior that makes the older one a better performer.

 

I hope you're right.

 

I hope so, too. People that buy a new Alienware deserve to have it work flawlessly out of the box regardless of their experience or technical skill level.

I am actually using the 344.88 (modded for my R2) that Mr. Porras posted a link to and it works better for 980M SLI on my system than the newer drivers do... less throttling and seems to game really well. [ Example Link]

 

I know that AMD has a special driver for this, but has anyone confirmed that everything works flawlessly with that?

- Does the system use the AMD egpu instead of the nvidia dgpu?
- Does the AMD egpu drive the internal lcd?
- Do nvidia and AMD drivers play nicely with each other?
- Does the nvidia dgpu work after unplugging the AMD egpu?

 

Yeah i can confirm that everything works like intended with Ga and a R9 290X

 

This is good to know.

 

Thank you for the info. Might just pull the trigger on purchasing a 15 + GA, or maybe I'll wait when the 390x series comes out.

 

One of the solutions worked with the 344.73 driver.
The 344.88 driver won't work, however.

 

That means u cant use the newest nvidia driver even with the GA?

 

Well... sort of. You can, but there are problems.
And we don't like problems.

 

So should someone hold on the GA for now or is this solution worth the workaround, also should one go for AMD given the superior drivers or trust NVIDIA to come up with something

 

The workaround seems to work, so it's safe to get an Nvidia GPU.

 

The alternative (AMD) is never a safe bet. They seem to struggle to get things right. Although, NVIDIA certainly isn't putting their best foot forward lately. It's sad that both options leave so much to be desired in one way or another.

 

just not true... amds drivers are getting better and better, so do their graphics cards

 

If that is still accurate in 6 to 9 months and they have a mobile GPU in CrossFire that can smoke the GTX 980M in SLI, then I will agree with you at that point. NVIDIA is definitely on a slippery slope right now and churning out some driver trash at an alarming pace, so some stiff competition would be beneficial to both the red and green fans.

 

That's the sort of timeframe I am looking at to populate the G/A. depending on the offering I am prepared to give them a try again - NV all the way since 2004.

 

Seems there is a glitch with posting, it never completed hence the multiple posts!

 

Seems there is a glitch with posting, it never completed hence the multiple posts!

 

sorry for the multiple posts. I seem to have hit a glitch. I can't even edit those dups...

 

NVIDIA is such a chicken outfit... they hold back and do a crappy job and the moment AMD does something awesome they release something they were holding back. That's a pretty rotten way to do their customers, IMHO. But, that's why I said in 6 to 9 months. AMD might do something really crazy good, then we have NVIDIA suddenly pull one of those shenanigans again and stomp on AMD's parade. Things were a whole lot better when they were actively engaged in a bloody battle for the performance crown and viciously ripping at one another's jugular veins, giving both red and green customers their very best all the time.

 

sorry for the mess, time to report a bug...

 

Almost every time I post this evening it times out and then I have to delete a duplicate. And, some of the duplicate are difficult to delete. Maybe it will be better tomorrow... got to love those new software bugs. Lord knows we get our fill of that with games... especially the most expensive ones.

 

I just tried the workaround and it doesnt seem to work... got an aw15 with evga gtx 980... still cant use an external display.. it doesnt get recognized by the system

And the Intel HD is used for Rendering...

 

Gotta agree with that. AC:U finally works and looks great since the last driver. Shame I already played it through with no voices, low FPS, and manic NPC's, .

 

ok i got it working... finally. On the Alienware Arena Forums, they posted a link with a modified driver. Dunno whats exactly been modified but its fully working. GTX970m and GA with GTX980!
The only thing that would make my day better would be a chance to use the newest drivers.

Edit:
Here is the Link to the AWA Forum and the working driver:
https://www.alienwarearena.com/foru...e-software/alienware-graphics-amplifier-faq/6

Edit2:
Heres a link to a newer Driver version that works for me (AW15 GTX970m and GTX980)
http://na.alienwarearena.com/forums...-alienware-laptop-nvidia-graphics-card-driver

 

Hello everyone,

If you are having issues with the Alienware Graphics Amplifier and its drivers, we released a new driver to fix all issues. It's posted here:

http://na.alienwarearena.com/forums/thread/86575/general-1/new-alienware-laptop-nvidia-graphics-card-driver

 

can anyone confirm this so I can go ahead and order my GA

 

So far this is the only thing I have been able to make work!
About 12 restarts and it worked flawlessly plugged in 970 and external monitor fired up. Restart and unplug the 860 in my I7 13 works.
Fire Strike scores are about 300 lower though.

 

Dude, it doesn't work.

 

With the 980M you should not need to jump in straight away with the GA.